If well written, the opening words of a letter will attract the attention of the reader and encourage him to continue. A poorly written introduction, on the other hand, will give the reader reason to ignore what follows. Learning how to reach out to your recipient, write an engaging first sentence, and structure an interesting introductory paragraph will help you write a letter worth reading.
Steps
Method 1 of 1: Begin Your Letter
Step 1. Address the letter to a specific person
- Exclude the salutation in certain types of letters. This is only possible in some cases, such as e-mails between work colleagues or personal e-mails. For all other letters the recipient should be specified.
- Write salutations in business letters appropriately. If it is a business letter, avoid using the recipient's first name in the greeting. Also avoid using formulas such as "To whom of competence" and "Dear Sir / Madam", as they do not express interest and leave the reader indifferent. However, “To Whom Responsible” is acceptable, for example, in letters of recommendation.
- If you are writing a cover letter or business letter, take a few minutes to call and get the name of the recipient you intend to contact, or at least search the Internet, using the information you have to find out. Make sure it's spelled correctly - a wrong name is very offensive.
Step 2. Start with an engaging first sentence
The first sentence of each letter attracts attention and sets the tone for everything else. Imagine that writing a letter is like fishing, and think of this sentence as bait. What you want is to attract the reader, catch him at your hook with this sentence. Avoid using opening words like “Hello. My name is… “or“I am writing this letter because…”in business letters.
Step 3. Make yourself aware of the reader's attention in the first paragraph
It marks the continuation of your outstanding first sentence. Sometimes a single sentence is enough to complete it.
Step 4. Consider these first paragraph writing tips
Don't digress, your recipient is more than likely running out of time. In this paragraph, you should state who you are and the purpose of the letter. If possible, refer to a past conversation or point of contact to refresh the reader's memory. You can mention the person who gave you the reference. Talk about your successes by highlighting them, but be careful not to be braggart.
